Physical Therapy

What is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy uses evidence-based techniques and treatments to restore function and improve health. Physical therapists use common modalities such as heat/cold, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, manual therapy, strengthening and stability exercises and elongation of tight muscles to address injuries sustained by the structures of the musculoskeletal system: bones, ligaments, muscles, and cartilage.

Common treatment modalities

➢ Hot/Cold Packs: Hot packs are used to relax muscle spasms and tightness in the muscles. Cold packs are used after acute injuries with inflammation present (sprain ankle). Hot/Cold packs will prepare muscle movement to be less painful for stretching and strengthening.

➢ Electrical Stimulation: Activates nerves in damaged or inactive muscle tissues to enable those muscles to be correctly strengthened.

➢ Ultrasound: sound waves that are transferred to a specific part of the body using a probe. The sound waves travel deep into tissue creating gentle heat.

➢ Manual therapy: a hands-on approach for a specific body part to treat spasms in a muscle, limited joint motion and more and can consist of joint mobilization, soft tissue mobilization, trigger point techniques and myofascial release.

➢ Strength and Stability Exercises: important techniques used by physical therapists to correct muscle imbalances and avoid future injuries.

➢ Stretching: Elongation of tight muscles to help patient return to his previous level of function and to prevent future injuries.

It has been a great pleasure meeting the staff of Light Touch. After a short time of coming here, my body started feeling much better. In addition, my orthopedist has been speaking very highly of them.

I tore my meniscus and the orthopedic dr prescribed therapy before and after surgery. Due to my work schedule it was hard to find a center. The staff at Light Touch were very accommodating and in every way focused on getting better and wanted to alleviate anything that may obstruct my improvement. They went the extra mile in patiently explaining my condition, gave assurance when fears arouse, sensitive to my pain yet challenged my muscles for greater strength and gave instruction in habits to practice for long term improvement. There is much I can say about Light Touch but ultimately […]